Thomas W. Mote II, Esq.
Spanish-speaking former public defender with 20 years of jury trial experience and Florida Bar Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law
Attorney Thomas Mote has been practicing law for over 20 years and is licensed to practice law in Florida, California, New York, Texas, and the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico. Mr. Mote speaks Spanish and grew up in Miami, having attended Christopher Columbus Catholic High School.
In his youth, Mr. Mote avidly practiced and competed in Judo and Ju-Jitsu and advanced to the rank of Shodan Black-Belt. He then studied at the Florida State University where he graduated, Magna Cum Laude (with Honors), earning a Bachelor of Science in Communication and later a Juris Doctorate in law also from Florida State University.
In law school, Mr. Mote was well liked by his peers and was elected to serve as a class representative for the Student Bar Association.
He then became an assistant public defender and practiced for three years as an Assistant Public Defender for Orange and Osceola counties where he was recognized for his talents in trying cases before a jury, as well as his commitment to the indigent and his hard work for his clients, in being awarded the 2003 “Advocate of the Year” by the Office of the Public Defender for the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Communication
Florida State University
Juris Doctorate in law
Florida State University
Memberships
- State and Federal Bars of Florida.
- State and Federal Bars of California.
- State and Federal Bars of New York.
- State and Federal Bars of Texas.
- Federal Bar of the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico.
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
- Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
- Member of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Awards
- “2003 Advocate of the Year” Office of the Public Defender, Ninth Judicial Circuit.
- Attorney and Practice Magazine “Top Ten Criminal Defense Attorney in Florida 2018”.
- American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys: “10 Best Law Firms for Exceptional and Outstanding Client Service 2017-2018”.
- The National Trial Lawyers Association: “Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorney 2018”.
- “Layers of Distinction Award 2018 for Criminal Defense”.
- The National Trial Lawyers Association: “Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorney 2015”.
- Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. Member since 2002.
Featured in
- Miami Herald.
- El Nuevo Herald.
- Telemundo.
- Univision.
- WPLG 10 ABC News.
- “First 48” A&E.
- Fox News.
- 60 Minutes CBS.
- WSVN 7 NBC.
- Sun Sentinel.
- Orlando Sentinel.